Determination!

As Arjun in grief said: How can I possibly be expected to fight my grandfather? In my childhood I would climb on Bhisma’s lap thinking he was my father. I am not able to gather myself to fight him

 

Hearing this, Lord Krsna sternly reprimanded Arjuna for his sentimentality & once again reminded him of his vow to kill Bhisma and thus execute his duty as a Kshatriya. Sri Krsna also encouraged Arjuna by assuring him that Bhisma was destined to die in this great battle

 

Finally, after casting aside his grief, Arjuna said: My dear Krsna, I know that Sikhandi is the ordained slayer of Bhisma and so I will keep the Pañcãla prince in front of me. As I protect Sikhandi by warding off the Kaurava warriors, he can attack Bhisma without impediment

 

In this way the next day's strategy was decided upon, in accordance with Bhisma's advice. At last, the Pandavas retired for the night

 

On the tenth day, as the Pāndava army entered the battlefield, Shikhandi was kept in the center. Bhima & Arjun protected Shikhandi on both sides while Abhimanyu & Draupadi’s sons remained at the rear. Right from the start, Pāndavas assaulted Kaurava soldiers with great vengeance, forcing them to turn their backs and flee. This was intolerable for Bhisma, who flared with rage & began consuming the Pāndava army

 

Shikhandi Summoned his courage & rushed at Bhisma, piercing him in the chest with 3 arrows. This only served to further enrage the Grandsire, however. When he saw that it was Shikhandi that had wounded him, he laughingly announced: O Prince of Pāncalas, even if you attack me, I’ll never fight back, for I still consider you to be the female who the creator originally fashioned

 

This remark angered Shikhandi & so he replied: You wretch! Rest assured that I’ll kill you this very day

 

Shikhandi once again pierced Bhisma with his arrows. At the same time Arjun urged him on by saying: Rush at Bhisma & kill him quickly. O Shikhandi, you can attack him without fear, for I’ll check all the Kaurava warriors who dare oppose you. Arjun, Bhima & Ghatotkaca proceeded to greatly afflict the Kaurava warriors & so Duryodhana went to Bhisma and urged him to quickly kill all the great Pāndava heroes

 

After thinking for a moment about what should be done, Bhisma replied: Even though I’ve steadily fulfilled my vow to kill 10 000 enemy warriors each day, today I promise to complete my full obligation by either killing all the Pāndavās or else laying down my life on the battlefield

 

After this, Bhisma launched a ferocious attack on the Pāndava army. Indeed, on the 10th day he truly fulfilled his promise to Duryodhana by slaughtering more than 200 000 foot soldiers, as well as tens of thousands of chariot warriors, cavalry & elephants

 

As Bhisma exterminated Pāndava forces, Arjun urged Shikhandi: Give up your fear & rush at the Grandsire. While staying behind you, I’ll kill him myself

 

Krsna says about determination in the mode of ignorance:

 

yayā svapnaṁ bhayaṁ śokaṁ viṣādaṁ madam eva ca
na vimuñcati durmedhā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī

 

And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness and illusion – such unintelligent determination, O son of Pṛthā, is in the mode of darkness

 

Fear always looks backward & reminds us about things that have happened to us in the past. We dread that similar things will happen again & thus keeps us immobilized. Our plans are then sabotaged

 

Let’s look up & turn to God, seeking His guidance and strength. By doing so, we will surely be building bright future for ourselves

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife

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